Frame



M. B. STONE Sept. 11, 1934.

. FRAME Filed June 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR z dcafi Sept. 11, 1934. M. B. STONE 1,973,580

FRAME I Filed June 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 kamimiw ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 11, .1934

mam:

Malcolm Bowditch Stone, Milton, Mass., was to Ludlow Manufacturing Associates, trustees,

- Boston, Mass. 7

Application June s, 1933, Serial No. 674,986 '7 18 Claims: v(c1. 19-130) This invention relates to the drawing of fibres in the manufacture of yarn, and is concerned more particularly with a novel apparatus for controlling and restraining the fibres in that portion of the strand undergoing draft, as for example, in

drawing, roving, or spinning frames. The apparatus of the invention is specially adapted for use in the manufacture of yarn from long fibres such, for example, as those of the best variety including jute, hemp and fiax. Accordingly, for

purposes of explanation, embodiments of the invention suitable for use in spinning and drawing frames for jute will be illustrated and described in detail, although it is to be understood thatthe l5 utility of the invention is not limited to the particular fibrel In drawing and roving frames heretofore used in the manufacture of jute yarn, gill bars have been customarily employed to support that por- 20 tion of the strand undergoing draft between the retaining and drawing rolls. These gill bars containing gill pins which extend into and through thestrand and serve to hold back and restrain fibres which are not nipped by the drawing rolls.

If restraint were not imposed upon the fibres in such apparatus, those fibres which are nipped by the drawing rolls would carry forward with them by entanglement other fibres which are not nipped by the drawing rolls. As a consequence,

the fibres would not feed tothe drawing rolls at a ated by their screws, and frames equipped with the bars thus have a relatively limited rate of production. A

In copending application, Serial No. 646,266,

filed December 8, 1932, of which I am a co-applicant, there is illustrated and described a novel apparatus for drawing and spinning which in-- cludes new devices for controlling the fibres in that portion of a strand undergoing draft, and the apparatus of this invention is a further develop- 501-ment of that disclosed in the' application,

identified.

In the apparatus of the present invention thatpart of the strand undergoing draft between the retaining rolls and the drawing rolls of the frame is subjected to control by means of a plurality of difierent devices engaging the strand. At least one of these devices is stationary and so positioned as to force the strand out of its normal path of travel from the retaining rolls to the drawing rolls. It thus imposes drag upon the strand and restrains the fibres which are not nipped by the drawing roll and tends to prevent them from being carried along by entanglement. Since this device forces the strand out of its normal path, the pressure of the strand against the 5- device increases with an increase in the thickness of the strand and the dragging control provided the fibres. This gripping mechanism preferably includes a pair of positively driven rollers which serve both to restrain the fibres and to feed the .strand to the drawing rolls at the desired rate.

The gripping mechanism is operatively connected to the movable device, the nature of the (mm as nection being such that the restraining effect of the gripping mechanism is proportional to the pressure of the strand upon the movable device. Accordingly, as the strand passes through the apparatus, variations in the thickness of the strand produce variations in the effectiveness of the gripping and feeding mechanism and the latter imposes a more effective control and produces a better feeding action whenever a thick spot occurs in the strand.

For a better understanding of the inventionreference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an embodiment of the invention as used in a jute 10c spinning frame;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a portion of that apparatus on the line 2-2 of Figure -1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing a-modified form of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the, modified form;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of the apparatus as used in a drawing frame; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the spinning frame illustrated comprises retaining rolls 10 and 11 to which the strand 12 is guided by means of a conductor 13, the strand passing around bars 14 and 15 in front of the conductor, the bars engaging the strand on opposite sides and imposing drag upon it. From the restraining rolls, the strand passes to drawing rolls 16 and 17, and both the retaining rolls and drawing rolls grip the strand tightly. The drawing rolls ro tate at a surface speed substantially higher than that of the drawing rolls and thus draw the strand, the draft being determined by the difference in the surface speeds.

In order. to control the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing'draft and lying between the nips of the retaining rolls and the nips of thedrawing rolls, a number of control devices are employed including a fixed bar 18 which may be mounted in any suitable support. The bar, as here illustrated, is mounted in an opening in-a bracket 19 attached to a part 20 of the frame structure and the bracket is provided with a plurality of openings 21 and a slot 22 in which the bar 18 may be selectively mounted. The

bar engages the strand from one-side and forces it out of its normal path of travel from the nip of the retaining rolls to the nip of the drawing rolls. The bar thus imposes drag upon the strand and the amount of the drag depends upon the extent to which the strand is forced from its normal path and may be regulated by placing the bar in the various openings in the bracket provided for it. The drag imposed upon the strand byits contact with the-bar 18 causes fibres which are not nipped by the drawing rolls to be held back against the pull of the fibres which are nipped. Mounted in front of the drawing rolls 'andin a position to contact with the strand is a roll 23 which is supported for rotation in fixed bearings and is preferably driven in any suitable manner so as to rotate in the same direction as roll 11 and with a slightly higher surface speed, the'two speeds being of the order of 1.5 to 1.0, for example. The roll 23 may have a plain surface, a scratched surface, or a fluted surface, the fluted surface being preferred.

' Associated with the roll 23 is a roll 24 which engages the strand on the opposite side. The roll 24 is mounted in a floating mounting so that it bears on the strand lightly and may approach and recede from'the roll 23 in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand. One convenient form of mounting comprises arms 25 pivoted on the bracket 19, the roll 24 being supported in theends of the arms for free rotation.

mesh as roll 24 movestoward and away from roll 23. The roll 24 preferably has'the same type of surface as roll 23, and one-satisfactory way of making the-rolls is to flute the rolls deeply at the ends and lightly between the ends, the deeply fluted portions of the roll then acting as the driv mg means between them.

Between the bar 18 and the nip of rolls 23, 24,

The member 26 engages the strand between bar 18 and the nip of rolls 23, 24 forces the strand out of its normal path, thus imposing drag upon the strand. Since the strand passes through a channel having side walls which are relatively closely together, the strand is confined against spreading laterally and the action of the member is thus made more effective. With the member 26 attached to the arms 25, the pull of the strand causes the latter to exert pressure against the bottom of the channel the member 26, and this tends to move the member and arms 25 so that the roll 24 approaches the roll 23. Accordingly, a thick spot in the strand produces a pressure of the strand against the member 26, and this in turn causes an increased effectiveness of the restraining action of rolls 23, 24, preventing too rapid feeding of the fibres to the drawing rolls.

With the construction described, it will be apparent that the action of the member 26 and rolls 23, 24 varies in effectiveness in accordance with the character of the strand undergoing draft and the restrainingaotion increases when a greater restraint upon the fibres is required'and decreases as less restraint is needed.

In order that the roll 24 may be cleared of loose fibres, there is provided a clearer plate 30, which may take the form of a strip of rubber bearing on the operating surface of the roll and secured at one end to a cross-piece 31 between the arms 25. From the rolls 23, 24, the strand is guided to the drawing rolls 16, 17 by a conductor 32 of standard construction.

For many purposes, it is satisfactory to mount the conductor 32 in a fixed mounting, but in some cases, it may be desirable to mount the conductor so that it moves with the roll 24. This construction is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 in which conductor 32' is shown as mounted on a cross-piece between arms 25' which are attached rigidly to the arms 25. As the roll 24 is moved away from roll 23 by a thick spot in the strand,

conductor 32 is moved so as to force the strand away from its normal path of travel from the nip of rolls 23, 24 to the nip of the drawing rolls 16, 17. The conductor thus imposes drag upon the strand and restrains the fibres. Under normal circumstances, the lower edgeof the conductor 26 is in a plane tangent to' the surface of the roll 24 and the bottom of the conductor 32' is similarly in a plane tangent to roll 24. A thick spot in the strand passing between rolls 23, 24 causes roll 24 to move away from roll 23 and the greater the local thickness of the strand, the greater is the drag imposed on the strand by conductor 32 In Figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated a modias to force the strand out of its normal path from the retaining rolls to the drawing rolls and thereby impose restraint upon the strand to anextent dependent on the positions of the bars 38 and 39 relative to the strand and to one another. From beneath the bar 39 the strand passes through a conductor 40 having sidewalls 4l converging so as to prevent lateral spreading of the strand and this conductor is mounted on a cross-piece 42 secured by a slot and bolt connection, generally designated 43, between a pair of arms 44 pivoted on a bar 45 mounted on any convenient part of the frame.

From the conductor 40, the strand passesbetween rolls 46 and 47, roll 46 being mounted for rotation in fixed bearings and in a position to engage the strand from one side while roll 47 is mounted for rotation'in the swinging arms 44 and engages'thestrand'from the other side. As-

In the drawing. frame construction, the drag,

required is somewhat greater than in the spinning frame, and accordingly, an additional bar is em ployed for forcing the strand outof its normal path from the retaining rolls to the drawing rolls. In other respects, the two constructions are substantially the same, and in both cases, the fibres in the-strand are restrained at a point just in front of the drawing rolls by means which vary in effectiveness in accordance with the character of the strand. Also when these means take the form of positively'driven rolls, the strand is positively fed to the drawing rolls and this adds to the uniformity of the final product.

I claim: g

1. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retainlng a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the, retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mountedin fixed bearings, a floating mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nippedfby the drawing rolls topass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, and a member attachedto said mounting and engaged by the strand, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

2. In a frame, the combination of rolls forretaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, saidmeans including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

3. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings and driven, a fioating mounting for the sec-- ond control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, means for rotating the second control roll at substantially the same surface speed as the first control roll, and a member attached to said mounting and engaged by the strand, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

4. In a frame, the combinationmf rolls for retaining a'fibrous strand. rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means'including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings and driven, a floating' mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls topass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, means for driving said second control from the first control roll and at substantially the same surface speed, and

a member attached to said mounting and, engaged by the strand, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

5. In a frame, the combination of. rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling-the;fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control -rolis engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings and driven, a floating mounting for the second'control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control'roll in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, said control rolls having inter-engaging teeth eifective to cause rotation of said rolls at substantially the'same surface speed, and a member attached to said mounting and engaged by the strand, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

6. In a frame, the combination of rolls for rethat part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings, a floating moimting forthe second containing a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in iii trol roll permitting 'it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by thedrawing. rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres hot nipped, and a member attached to said mounting and engaged by the strand;said momber placing drag upon the strand and confining it laterally, the pressure of the-strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

7. In a framathe combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of Eli said control rolls being mounted in fixed bear= ings, a floating mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with in equalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, and a conductor attached to said mounting and engaged by the strand, said conductor having walls confining the strand laterally, the pressure of the strand on said conductor tending to cause said second controlroll to approach thefirst control roll.

8. In a. frame, the combination of rolls'for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between'the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said 'control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings, a floating mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll'in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, a member engaged'by the'strand, and a connection between the member and'mounting permitting adjustment 'of the position of the member relative to the mounting, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

9. In a frame, the combination-of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the'strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of 'said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings, a floating mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting' fibres nipped bythe drawing rolls'to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped, a member engaging the strand and placing drag upon it, and a second member engaging the strand, said second member being attached to said mounting and the pressure of the strand thereon tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

10. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling'the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed'bearretaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperating control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixedbearings, a pair of swinging arms in which said secand control roll is mounted, said arms permitting said roll to approach and recede from' the first control roll in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while, restraining fibres not nipped, and a member attached to said mounting and engaged by the strand, the pressure of the strand on said member tending to cause said second control roll to approach the first control roll.

12. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, and means for controlling the fibres in that part of the strand undergoing draft, said means including cooperatin control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides at a place between the retaining and drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings, a floating mounting for the second control roll permitting it to approach and recede from the first control roll in accordance with inequalities in the strand, said control'rolls permitting fibres nipped by the drawing rolls to pass freely between them while restraining fibres not nipped,

and a member supported in said mounting and taining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, 9. movably mounted member engaging the strand between said retaining rolls and drawing rolls and forcing it out of its normal path and thereby imposing drag upon it, means acting upon the strand from opposite sides and permitting those fibres which are nipped bythe drawing rolls to pass freely while restraining fibres not nipped, and a connection between said member and means, said member acting through said connection to vary the restraining action of said means as the pressure of the strand on said member varies.

14. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, a pair of means acting upon the strand between said retaining rolls and drawing rolls to force it out of its normal path andthereby imposing drag upon it, one of said means including a movable member continually forcing the strand out of its normal path and imposing drag upon it,

said member moving with variations in the pressure of the strand upon it, means acting on the strand to restrain fibres which are not nipped by the drawing rolls, while permitting fibres which are nipped to be drawn freely forward by said drawing rolls, and a connection between said member and said last-named means, said member acting through said connection to vary the restraining action of said means in accordance with the pressure of the strand on said member.

15. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, a member acting upon said strand between said retaining and drawing rolls and continually forcing it out of its normal path and thereby imposing drag upon it, said member being movably mounted, cooperating means acting on the strand to restrain fibres which are not nipped by the drawing rolls while permitting fibres which are nipped to be drawn freely forward by said drawing rolls, and a connection between said member and said means, said member acting through said connection to vary the restraining action of said means in accordance with the pressure of th strand on said member. 16. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, a pair of positively driven control rolls acting on the strand from opposite sides and lying between said drawing rolls and retaining rolls, one of said control rolls being movably mounted and free to approach and recede from the other in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand, and a member engaging the strand and movable with said movable control roll, said member continually forcing said strand out of its normal path and imposing drag upon it increasing in amount as said movable control roll recedes from the other control roll.

1'7, In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, a pair of control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides between the retaining rolls and the drawing rolls, one of said control'rolls being mounted in fixed bearings and the other being supported in a movable mounting permitting said roll to approach and recede from said fixed roll in accordance with variations in the thickness mounting and engaging the strand, said member engaging the strand and continually forcing it out of its normal path and imposing drag upon it, said drag varying in accordance with variations in the thickness of the strand.

18. In a frame, the combination of rolls for retaining a fibrous strand, rolls for drawing said strand, a pair of control rolls engaging the strand from opposite sides between the retaining rolls and the drawing rolls, one of said control rolls being mounted in fixed bearings and the other being supported in a pair of swinging arms and free to approach and recede from the other control roll in accordance with variations in the thickness of MALCOLM BOWDITCH STONE. 

